Taping machine



July 25, 1939. w c GEORGE 2,167,357

TAPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4? .2. 48

Patented July 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT 1 OFFICE TAPING MACHINE Walter 0. George, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Gaylord Container Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Maryland Application August 1, 1938, Serial No. 222,406 10 Claims. ((31.93-56) 5 article to be taped for automatically starting the taping mechanism; to provide for automatically stopping said mechanism upon completion of the taping cycle; to preventthe tape from sticking to the roll which applies the water or adhesive thereto; and to provide forsimplicity and economy. of construction. The invention consists in the taping machine and in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a taping machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of said machine;

Fig. 3 .is a left side elevation of said machine;

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal sections on the lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section, similar to Fig. 4, showing the tape being applied to the folded box;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view of the box controlled clutch mechanism for starting and stopping the taping mechanism;

Figs. 8 and 9 are cross-sections on the lines and 99, respectively, in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a section similar to Fig. 8 showing the clutch in operative position; I

Fig. 11 is a central longitudinal section on the line ll-i'l in Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a cross-section on the line l2-I2 in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary cross-section on the line lI-IS in Fig.1;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the tape moistening roll and the overrunning driving clutch therefor;

Fig. 15 is a part elevational and part longitudinal sectional view of said overrunning clutch;

Fig. 16 is a part end elevation and part crosssectional view of said overrunning clutch; and

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the folded box with the tape applied thereto.

The accompanying drawings show my inven- -tion embodied in a machine for taping the joints of folded fiberboard boxes. Said machine comprises a table including a frame I provided with legs 2, a top 3 upon which the boxes 4 that are u to be taped are folded by the operator and fed into a. taping mechanismlocated at the rear end of the table, and guides for said boxes adjustable crosswise of said top. Said taping mechanism comprises a main drive shaft that is disposed crosswise of the table at the rear or delivery end 5 thereof and is journaled in suitable bearings provided therefor in bracketsj rigid with said table at the rear corners thereof. The drive shaft 5 is provided beyond one side of the table with a drive pulley I and intermediate between the brackets 6 with three longitudinally spaced rub- I v her-covered feed rolls 8 that cooperate with similar feed rolls 9 on a horizontal shaft I0 that is located directly above said drive shaft. Thefeed roll shaft I0 is journaled in bearing blocks 1 i that 16 may be adjusted vertically in the brackets 6 by means of hand wheels I2 to accommodate boxes of different thickness.

Located forwardly of the feed roll shafts 5 and I0 is another pair of vertically spaced feed roll 2 shafts i4 and I5 that are provided with cooperating rubber-covered feed rolls I6 and I1, respectively, that are journaled in bearings provided therefor in brackets i8 secured to. the respective side rails of the frame I of the table. The upper 25 feed roll shaft l5, like the upper feed roll shaft i0, is journaled in bearing blocks I9 that are adjusted vertically in the brackets I 8 by means of hand wheels 20.

The upper feed roll shaft I0 is provided with a 0 gear 2| that intermeshes with and is driven by a gear 22 that is fixed to a stub shaft 22a journaled in a bracket 56 fixed to the right hand side rail of the frame I of the table. The gear 22 is driven by a gear 23 which is mounted ona stud 23a supported in the adjacent bracket 6 and is driven by a gear 24 on the drive or bottom feed roll shaft 5. The upper feed roll shaft is driven from the lower feed roll shaft I 4 through a train of gears including a pair of intermeshing idler gears 25, 40 25a journaled on studs 26, 26a fixed to one of the brackets l8, the lower gear 25 being driven by a gear 28 on the shaft l4 and the upper gear 25a driving a gear 29 on the upper shaft 15. The drive is transmitted to the forward or take-in 45 rolls I6 and I! by means of an endless sprocket chain 30 that passes around sprocket wheels 3| and 32 fixed to the drive shaft 5 and lower, forward feed roll shaft M, respectively. By this arrangement, the folded box 4 is drawn into the 50 taping mechanism by the front feedor take-in rolls l6 and I1 and is discharged therefrom by the rear feed rolls 8 and 9 withthe joint thatis to be taped in line with the middle feed roll of each feed roll shaft.

Enclosed in a hollow cylinder cage 33 fixed to a non-rotary spindle 34 that projects from an upright 35 is a roll 36 of tape that is mounted for rotation on said spindle. The .base portion 351:. is suitably secured to a bar 31 that extends from side to side of the table above the top thereof with its ends supported in brackets 38 fixed to the side rails of the frame I of said table. The tape, upon leaving the roll, passes over a guide roller 39 journaled on the roll cage 33, thence downwardly beneath a guide pin 49 fixed to the lower end of an upright lever 4|, thence forwardly over a guide pin 42 on the upright 35, thence downwardly beneath a second guide pin 42a fixed to said upright, thence rearwardly over a moistening roll 44, and thence rearwardly and downwardly between a pair of feed rolls 45 and 46. The moistening roll 44 is journaled for free rotation by the tape in a reservoir 44a mounted in the pedestal 35a of the upright 35. This reservoir is adapted to contain water, if the tape is adhesive, or a liquid adhesive, if the tape is plain. The lever 4| is mounted on a shaft 41 journaled in a rearward extension 35b of the roll supporting upright 35; and a tension spring 48 has one end connected to the upper end of said lever and its other end anchored to the roll cage or case 33, whereby said lever draws the tape taut. The shaft 41 is also provided with a sector-shaped member which is adapted to wipe across the roll 39 to draw from the roll of tape a length corresponding to the length required for covering the joint in the box. This wiper supporting shaft 41 is driven by an endless sprocket chain 59 which passes around a sprocket wheel fixed to said shaft and an idler sprocket wheel 52 fixed to a shaft 53 journaled in the upright 35. One stretch of this sprocket chain intermeshes with and is driven by a sprocket wheel54 fixed to a horizontal cam shaft 55, one end of which is journaled in the bracket 56 and the other end of which is journaled in the upright 35. The cam shaft is driven from the continuously rotating gear 22 through a double gear 51 journaled on a stub shaft 510. supported on the bracket 56 and a gear 58 on said cam shaft.

The tape feeding rolls 45, 46 are mounted in a head 59 formed on the upright 35, the roll 45 being fixed to a shaft 45a having a pinion 69 thereon that is driven by a rack 6|a formed on the lower end of a bar 6|. The upper end of this bar has an elongated slot 62 therein through which the cam shaft 55 extends and said bar is reciprocated by an edge cam 63 that is fixed to said shaft and cooperates with cam rollers 64 journaled on said bar above and below said shaft. The tape feeding device also includes a tape cutoff mechanism including a fixed knife 65 and a movable knife 66 that is actuated by a rod 61 whose upper end is attached to one end of a cam lever 68 that is journaled for vertical swinging movement on a stub shaft 68a that projects horizontally from the upright 35, and whose lower end is pivoted to one end of a lever 69 that is fulcrumed on the head 59 and has its other end pivotally connected to the knife 66. The other end of the cam lever has one end of a tension spring 19 attached thereto whose other end is anchored to the upright 35. This spring holds the cam lever 98 in engagement with an edge cam 1| fixed to the cam shaft 55. By this arrangement, the cam lever 68 is actuated to move the knife 66 to cut-off position whenever said lever is in engagement with the drop of the tape cut-oil cam 1|.

' joint therein.

By the arrangement described, the folded box is drawn into the machine by the front feed rolls and is discharged therefrom by the rear feed rolls. During the passage of the box through the machine, the tape is drawn from the roll 35 by the pre-feeding sector 49 and is drawn by the rack operated feed rolls 45, 46 over the moistening roll 44 and fed out of the feeding head 59 onto the upper surface of the box 4 over the The tape is pressed down over the joint by the discharge rolls; and when the tape has covered the joint throughout its entire length, the movable knife 66is actuated by the cam 1| to cut off the tape.

The above described taping mechanism is automatically started by the movement of the box 4 through the front and rear pairs of feed rolls. The mechanism for starting the taping mechanismpreferably comprises a trip in the form of a vertically disposed pin 12 mounted on a horizontal plate 13 working in a vertical opening 14 provided therefor in the table top 3. This,plate is pivotally supported on the upper ends of parallel links 15 whose lower ends are pivotally supported on a pair of horizontal shafts 16 that are journaled in bearings provided therefor in a bracket frame 11 secured to the rear rail of the table. A coiled tension spring 18 has one end secured to one of the links 15 and the other end anchored to a bracket 19 fixed to the underside of the table top 3. This spring serves to yieldably hold the plate 13 in its uppermost position with the pin 12 thereon disposed in the path of travel of the box as it advances through the feed rolls. This shaft is also provided with the rock arm 89 whose free end is pivotally connected to the lower end of a link 9|, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to the free end of a pawl 82 that is pivoted, as at 83, on the bracket 56 for vertical swinging movement towards and away from the shaft into and out of the path of a shoulder 84a on a collar 84 that forms one element of a normally disengaged coil friction clutch for connecting the continuously rotating gear 58 with the cam shaft 55. The remaining elements of said clutch comprise a sleeve 86 which is pinned on the cam shaft 55, as at 81, and rotatably supports the collar 84, a collar 88 secured by a pin 89 to the outer end of said shaft and having an annular flange 88a forming a bearing for the hub of the gear 58, and a helical coil spring 99 interposed between said sleeve and the hub of said gear with one end anchored to said sleeve and the other end anchored to said collar. The spring is held in compressed position free'of the hub of the gear 58 by the engagement of the pawl 82 and, when released by said pawl, expands into engagement with the hub of said gear and thus transmits the drive to the cam shaft 55. 'A second pawl I95 is also pivoted to the bracket 56 and is held by a spring I91 in engagement with the shoulder 9|a of the collar 9| that is secured to the sleeve 86 by the pin 81 and serves as a safety brake for the clutch.

By this arrangement, when the box operated pin 12 is in raised position, the clutch operating link 8| is also raised and the spring 99 is tightened whereby the gear 58 rotates without imparting any rotary movement to the cam shaft 55. When, however, the pin 12 is depressed by the engagement therewith with the underside of a box passing through the feed rolls, the link 8| is pulled downwardly thereby freeing the pawl 82 controlled thereby from the shoulder 84a of the clutch spring collar 84, with the result that that clutch spring 90 expands into contact with the hub of the rotating gear 68 and thereby transmits the rotary motion of said gear to the cam shaft 55. Rotation of this shaft puts the taping mechanism into operation and this operation continues until the collar 84 makes one complete revolution, whereupon the pawl 82 is again engaged by the shoulder 84a on said collar, which engagement prevents further rotation of said collar and causes the spring to tighten and free itself from driving engagement with the hub of the gear 59. When the spring is thus freed from the hub of the gear. rotation of the cam shaft 55 ceases, thus stopping the operation of the taping mechanism. This cycle of events is repeated each time a box is fed into the machine.

The moistening roll 44, which is driven by themovement of the tape thereover during the taping cycle, is also driven in the inoperative position of the taping mechanism. This drive comprises an endless belt 92 that passes around a pulley 93 fixed to the continuously rotating stub shaft 22a and a pulley 94 fixed to a shaft 95 that extends into a suitable speed reducing gear box 96 mounted on the'bracket 56. A shaft 91 has a universal joint connection 99 with the take-off shaft of speed reducer 96 and is connected to the shaft 99 of the moistening roll 44 by an overrunning clutch I 00. This clutch comprises rollers IOI interposed between the peripheral rim of the clutch casing I02 and the fiat peripheral faces l03a of a ring or collar I03 keyed to a sleeve II that rotates with the shaft 99. With this arrangement, when the roll 44 is rotated at a higher speed than its flat faced driving collar I03, as when the tape is being drawn over the roller by the feed rolls 45-, 46, the rollers IBI are are inoperative and said roll rotates independently of said driving collar. When, however, the roll 44 is not driven by the movement of the tape thereover, the driving collar I93 continues to rotate, thus clamping the rollers l0l between said collar and the rim of the clutch casing I02 and causing said collar and casing to rotate together at the same speed. By this arrangement, when the taping cycle has been completed and the tape moistening roll is not being rotated by the tape, the roll continues to slowly rotate and thus prevents the tape from sticking thereto and inerfering with the operation of the machine when the taping mechanism is again started.

Obviously, the hereinbefore taping machine admits of considerable modification without departing from the invention. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the kind described, an intermittently operated tape feeding mechanism, a tape moistening roll in continuous contact with said tape in both operative and inoperative positions of said mechanism, a power driven shaft, and a clutch connection between said shaft and said roll adapted to permit rotation of said roll relative to said shaft by engagement of the moving tape with said roll and to positively rotate said roll in the stationary position of the roll engaging portion of said tape to thereby prevent said portion of said tape from sticking to said roll in such stationary position.

2. In a machne of the kind described, a tape feeding mechanism, a continuously operating drive means therefor, a normally disengaged clutch for operatively connecting said tape feeding mechanism to said drive means to be actuated thereby, means operable during the passage through said machine of the article to be taped for actuating said clutch to operatively connect said drive means with said tape feeding mechanism, a tape moistening roll adapted to be rotated by engagement of the moving tape therewith and a connection between said roll and said drive means for rotating said roll during the disengaged position of said clutch.

3. In a machine of the kind described, a tape feeding mechanism, continuously rotating feed roll for the article to be taped, a normally disengaged clutch operable by the passage through said machine of the article to be taped for operatively connecting said tape feeding mechanism to said feed roll to be actuated thereby, a tape moistening roll adapted to be rotated by engagement of the moving tape therewith and an operative connection between said feed roll and said moistening roll for rotating the latter during the idle position of said tape feeding mechanism.

4. In a machine of the kind described, a tape feeding mechanism, a continuously driven feed roll, two gears driven thereby, a normally disengaged clutch operable by the passage through said machine of the article to be taped for operatively connecting said tape feeding mechanism to one of said gears to be actuated thereby, a tape moistening roll adapted to be rotated by engagement of themoving tape therewith and an operative connection between said roll and the other gear for rotating said roll during the idle position of said tape feeding mechanism.

5. In a machine of the kind described, continuously rotating power driven rolls for feeding the article to be taped, mechanism for applying the tape to the article being fed by said feed rolls, a normally disengaged clutch for operatively connecting said tape feeding mechanism to said roll driving mechanism, and means operably connected to said clutch and operable by the article being fed through said machine for engaging said clutch, said means comprising a pen extending upwardly into the path of the article being fed, downwardly yieldable means located entirely below the level of said article for supporting said pin in the path of said article and an operative connection between said supporting means and said clutch, whereby said clutch is engaged when said pin is depressed by said article and is disengaged at a predetermined point in the rotary movement of said clutch.

6. In a machine of the kind described, continuously rotating power driven rolls for feeding the article to be taped, mechanism for applying the tape to the article being fed by said feed rolls, a clutch connecting said tape feeding mechanism to said drive mechanism, and means operable by the article being fed through said machine for engaging said clutch, said means comprising a pin disposed in the path of the article being fed, a plate for supporting said pin, a pair of parallel arms pivoted to said machine and having their free ends pivotally connected to said plate, means for yieldably holding said pin in the path of said article, and a connection between said arms and said clutch, whereby said clutch is engaged when said pin is depressed by said article and is disengaged at a predetermined point in the rotary movement of said clutch.

7. In a machine of the kind described, continuously rotating power driven rolls for feeding the article to be taped, mechanism for applying the tape to the article fed by said feed rolls, a clutch for operatively connecting said tape applying mechanism to said drive mechanism, a pin disposed in the path of the leading edge of the article being fed, a plate for supporting said pin, a pair of parallel arms pivoted to said machine and having their free ends pivotally connected to said plate, an arm movable with one of said arms, a spring for yieldably holding said pin in the path of said article, and a connection between said last mentioned arm and said clutch, whereby said clutch is engaged by the engagement of the article with said pin and is automatically disengaged upon completion of a complete cycle of said tape applying mechanism.

8. In a machine of the kind described, a tape feeding mechanism, a continuously operating drive means therefor, a normally disengaged clutch for operatively connecting said tape feed-v ing mechanism to said drive means to be actuated thereby, means for actuating said clutch to operatively connect said drive means with said tape feeding mechanism, a tape moistening roll in contact at all times with said tape and adapted to be rotated by engagement of the moving tape therewith, and a connection between said roll and said drive means for rotating said roll dur ing the disengaged position of said clutch to prevent the stationary tape from sticking to said roll.

9. In a machine of the kind described, a tape feeding mechanism, a continuously rotating teed roll for the article to be taped, a normally disengaged clutch for operatively connecting said tape feeding mechanism to said feed roll to be actuated thereby, a tape moistening roll adapted to be rotated by engagement of the moving tape therewith, and an operative connection between said feed roll and said moistening roll for rotating the latter during the idle position oi! said tape feeding mechanism.

10. In a machine of the kind described, a tape feeding mechanism, a continuously driven feed roll, two gears driven thereby, a normally disengaged clutch for operatively connecting said tape feeding mechanism to one of said gears to be actuated thereby, a tape moistening roll adapted to be rotated by engagement of the moving tape therewith, and an operative connection between said roll and the other gear for rotating said roll during the idle position of said tape feeding mechanism.

WALTER C. GEORGE. 

